Pa. Dutch Cuisine - Outside Pa.

I live in the area of eastern Pennsylvania where "Pa. Dutch" cooking is prominent in not only the big famous buffet places but the little diners and restaurants, too. Was wondering if anyone has run into restaurants outside of Pa. that feature Pa. Dutch foods? There are some nearby in Maryland and Delaware, but how about some unexpected places to find a shoofly pie, whoopie pie, pot pie, schnitz & knepp, stuffed pig stomach, etc.?

Just travel to any area with a large concentration of Amish or Mennonite families and you will find all of the above regional eats. Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and even Montana have large groups of these plain people moving there.

I just had chicken and dumplings, apple snitz and a spice whoopie pie for lunch up in the BIG VALLEY (Belleville, PA) last week. I didn't have to eat a big dinner that evening!!![|)][|)]

Ingelnook Pantry in Geneva Illinois feature PA Dutch food. The Weaver family who owns the place make frequent trips back home to get certain sausages and other items. They have been around for over 20 years and do a large catering business as well as run the restaurant. I haven't eaten there in several years because their food is so heavy/rich and meat oriented, my SO is now a vegetarian. It was always a perfect place for comfort food.

Ohio actually has the largest population of Amish, south of Canton, OH. There's another contingent in eastern IN that makes some dynamite food as well.

carl reitz

Southern Indiana has several centers of activity for the Amish/Mennonite folks. The area of small towns about midway between Evansville and Bloomington/Bedford is the home of the Gasthaus Village (Montgomery) and the Black Buggy(Washington). These are two of the better known Amish Style restaurants.

There is the north central Ohio area southwest of Canton mentioned above, in small towns and villages like Berlin, Millersburg, and Sugarcreek.

Then there is the southwestern Indiana area mentioned above.

In northern Indiana in places like Shipshewana and Middlebury there are several restaurants. The Essenhaus and the Village Inn, both in Middlebury, are my favorites. A couple of excellent places in Shipshewana were lost last winter when a large part of downtown was destroyed by fire, and they have not yet rebuilt. I don't personally recommend the Blue Gate in Shipshewana - the building and the atmosphere are excellent, but the food and service are so-so at best.

In southwestern Ohio east of Cincinnati there are a couple of good places in the small town of West Union.

Eastern IN, near the OH state line there are 2 towns of Berne and Geneva. Heavy Amish community and some good eats as well. Ask the locals or look for some signs to find them. Some are out in the country.

carl reitz